1 posts from July 4, 2014

July 04, 2014

The University of Miami picked up commitments Friday from Baton Rouge (Louisiana) Central’s Terrell Chatman and Gulliver Prep’s Dionte Mullins after both raved about their recent visits to the school.

Chatman visited UM on June 27, and came away impressed with offensive coordinator James Coley and wide receiver coach/recruiting coordinator Brennan Carroll, and the school’s campus. Chatman (6-3, 180) is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.

“They sent a clear message that they wanted me," Chatman said to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "When I went down there it was everything I expected. I was surprised how small the campus was, but I really liked that. It's always been a school that I really liked.

Mullins, a 2016 freak of an athlete underrated with four stars by 247Sports, and his mother visited UM a day after Chatman, and came away wowed after their meeting with Coley, Carroll and Golden.

“It was a great meeting with had together – like a family meeting,” Mullins said Sunday during the Nike Football Festival event at Ransom Everglades High. “I felt like I was home.”

Playing close to home, family and friends were also an overwhelming factor for Mullins, who said the UM coaches made an impact keeping a focus on academics -- while football was the main topic of discussion, of course.

“They said I’d be a great weapon they can use,” said Mullins, who had more than 15 offers from schools around the country including Florida State and Alabama. “I kept that in mind a lot.”

Mullins may have also been leaning more towards UM after the coaching staff hired Gulliver offensive coordinator Jorge Baez to be its new assistant director of player personnel on Monday.

Baez, who was coaching the Gulliver Prep team on Sunday during its 7-on-7 tournament, said through a text message he took the UM job because “it was a great opportunity for me and my family.

Baez has had previous coaching experiences at the college level as the wide receivers coach at Southern University (Louisiana) and a quality control assistant at Ole Miss.

“After talking with Coach Golden and seeing how many changes he has done to the football facilities and the level of commitment the university has made to improve the program, it was a blessing to receive this opportunity,” Baez said.